Remove Hurdles to Cancer Care

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Access to Health Care

COVID-19 has shone a spotlight on the significant barriers to affordable health care that cancer patients have long faced. While relief packages and proposals to date have worked to address affordability of COVID-specific testing and treatment, policymakers must also tackle hurdles that cancer patients face like removing the red tape of prior authorization and step therapy, reducing out-of-pocket costs, and ensuring cost-sharing assistance directly benefits patients. There has been a great deal of research and investment in effective therapies that allow people fighting cancer to survive and live longer. Cancer patients need Congress to act quickly to remove hurdles to quality care.

56% of cancer patients and survivors are worried about being able to afford their treatment

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Lawmakers to Address Cost of Prescriptions Drugs for Cancer Patients and Others with Chronic Disease

March 27, 2023
Rhode Island

Rhode Island lawmakers have taken the first step towards ensuring cancer patients and others with chronic disease are protected from excessive prescription drug costs.

State Senate Passes Bill Aiming to Expand New Jerseyans’ Access to Colorectal Cancer Prevention & Early Detection Screenings

December 19, 2022
New Jersey

TRENTON, NJ – DECEMBER 19, 2022 – Earlier today, the New Jersey State Senate joined its Assembly counterpart in approving legislation that seeks to remove financial barriers to lifesaving colorectal cancer screening. With the passage of S-2305 by a vote of 37-0, the legislation heads to Governor Murphy’s desk for

Legislative Action Needed to Reduce the Burden of Cancer on Buckeyes

December 18, 2022
Ohio

As lawmakers dive into the 2023 legislative session, the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network urges legislators to prioritize passing legislation to ease the burden of cancer on Buckeyes.

New Report: Cancer Survivors in New York Face High Costs of Care and Debt Years After Treatment

December 15, 2022
New York

ALBANY , NY – DECEMBER 15, 2022 – The costs of being diagnosed with cancer last long after the diagnosis and initial treatment putting cancer survivors at increased risk for lifelong financial hardship, according to a new report from the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN).

Remove Hurdles to Cancer Care Resources

ACS CAN Comments on No Surprises Act Interim Final Rule

September 7, 2021

In these comments, ACS CAN strongly supports Congress’ and the Administration’s efforts to protect patients from surprise medical bills and we are encouraged by the important steps this interim final rule takes. Specifically, we applaud the Departments’ proposed policies related to:

Just the Facts: Where Healthcare Dollars Are Spent

April 16, 2021

Where healthcare dollars are spent compared with dollars on cancer care, 2018.

Spikes in Cost Increase the Burden of Affording Cancer Care

November 3, 2020

Cancer patients are particularly vulnerable to spikes in their health care costs because many expensive diagnostic tests and treatments are scheduled within a short period of time, so cancer patients spend their deductible and out-of-pocket maximum quickly. These costs can be difficult to manage over the course of a year, and most monthly budgets simply can’t afford these large bills.